Get back to the garden with lentil, veggie salad

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — News flash! You weren’t born to dislike veggies, you were taught: a costly, unfortunate circumstance considering worthy Americans suffer needlessly from a constellation of chronic diseases. You deserve to enjoy life, but you’re going to have to reboot your perceptions regarding garden fresh produce that I call, “The Celestial Apothecary”

Are you vegaphobic? Each of your trillions of cells requires earthy plant nutrients supplied by the food that creation intended us to eat. Food that is best for your Holy Temple. Your physical body, in any religion, is referred to as a temple. And, yes, its cliché, but you are indeed what you eat. What are you?

Nutrition is the keystone for everything you do. You expect a lot from your body and temple every day, so it’s logical to fuel it properly. With mindfulness.

When your cells are malnourished from a diet of foods proven to diminish your health, you cannot reach your highest potential. Believe me when I tell say, you can feel more alive, lighter, more mentally alert, more loving, happier, and stay above ground longer if you eat more from mother earth, not a factory.

It’s scientifically supported that folks who eat their fresh vegetables and fruits are less likely to acquire chronic diseases. Eating veggies from the Celestial Apothecary is vital for staying healthy and for the stewarding of your Holy Temple.

• Eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits as part of an overall healthy diet may reduce risk for heart disease, including heart attack and stroke.

• Eating a diet rich in some vegetables and fruits as part of an overall healthy diet may protect against certain types of cancers.

• Diets rich in foods containing fiber, such as some vegetables and fruits, may reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.

• Eating vegetables and fruits rich in potassium as part of an overall healthy diet may lower blood pressure, and may also reduce the risk of developing kidney stones and help to decrease bone loss.

• Eating foods such as vegetables that are lower in calories per cup instead of some other higher-calorie food may be useful in helping to lower calorie intake.

Refreshing Summer Lentil and Veggie Salad

1 cup green lentils, picked through and rinsed

5 cups water

1 tsp. Himalayan salt

• Place the lentils into salted water in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until lentils are tender but not mushy, 20 to 25 minutes.

• Strain lentils and let cool completely, then drain and put into a large salad bowl.

Salad:

1 red pepper, diced-Beta carotene

3 small tomatoes, seeded and diced-Vitamin C and lycopene

1/2 bunch green onion, chopped

1/2 head cauliflower, cut into small bits

1 small beet, peeled and diced-Anti-cancer

3 cups cooked and drained lentils-Protein

1 jalapeño pepper, finely diced

1 small bunch cilantro, finely chopped-Heavy metal detox

1/3 bunch flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

Mixed salad greens for serving, (Romaine or Kale works too)

Dressing:

2 Tbsp. Evoo

Juice from 1-1/2 lemons-vitamin c and alkaline

Himalayans salt and pepper to taste-minerals

• Put everything into a jar with lid and shake.

• I always double the recipe since I use dressing frequently. Lemon will taste a little funky after a few days, however, so use it up!

Assembly:

• Except for the beets, greens, and dressing, place everything into a mixing bowl

• Add as much or as little dressing as you wish.

• Mix gently and taste. (Don’t want the lentils to break up)

• In a salad bowl, lay down a bed of greens. Gently spoon in the veggie mix.

• Garnish with the beets.

• Or, you can assemble individual portions.

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